Unionville student performing at Media Theatre

It was one thing for Unionville freshman Karalyn Joseph to have a lead role in “13 the Musical” at the Wilmington Drama League, but now she gets to perform it on a bigger stage at the Media Theatre.

The cast, made up entirely teenagers, were “bought” by the Media Theatre after professionals, including the Artistic Director, attended one of the shows. They enjoyed it so much they are now running the show from May 30 to June 8 at their own theater.

“They thought this was a really good production,” Joseph said. “They had two weeks open in their schedule and asked the cast to fill in. They worked out the details and now we get to perform the show again and be paid.”

Joseph never originally was interested in theater, but instead started off dancing. She joined her mother on stage two years ago in a musical and that was all she wrote.

That little taste hooked her and now she can’t get enough, which is what brought her to the Wilmington Drama League.

“Auditions were in December (for the League),” Joseph said. “I really didn’t expect to get in, let alone one of the leads.”

Joseph had landed the role of Patrice in the musical.

“I basically started crying of happiness,” she said. “I ran down the hallway screaming at my mom. That was a really amazing moment.”

Since the cast is made up of students of roughly the same age, it was easy to make connections amongst each other.

“We all bonded really, really quickly and became best friends,” Joseph said. “It’s really special because there is only 13 people in the cast and considering it’s teenagers, you’d expect loads of drama. There is none of that, which to me is mindboggling.”

The show is a coming-of-age story with a rock and pop score by Jason Robert Brown. It was a hit with the young actors and actresses at the Wilmington Drama League and they are thrilled to have the rare opportunity to put the show on again in a different venue.

“We were really, really upset that the show was going to end,” Joseph said. “Many people were brought to tears that we got to have this amazing experience one more time. I consider all 12 of these people to be my best friends.”

“13 The Musical” will have eight shows at the Media Theatre starting May 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.mediatheatre.org.